Trigg County opened is season with a 5-2 win Monday over the Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado while dodging a thunderstorm that threatened the completion of the match.

Tilghman’s Zomi Dickson scored less than two minutes into the contest, but Trigg began to pour on the offensive pressure after a sluggish first 10 minutes.

“We looked like we were asleep the first part of the game,” Trigg head coach Christian Jarrett said. “They did an awesome job once they got their heads on straight. I didn’t think we’d come out and do as well as we did.”

The Lady ‘Cats were awarded a free kick in their offensive zone in the 11th minute, and Taylor Davis sent the ball in the net at the top left corner off the fingertips of Tilghman goalkeeper Violetta Longoria.

Trigg managed a bevy of scoring opportunities through the rest of the first half but couldn’t find the net. Paige Owens put the Tornado on top again with a goal nine minutes into the second half, but Trigg was fouled again and set up another free kick that was a nearly identical recreation of Davis’ first half tally. Her attempt found the net off of Longoria’s hands again, tying the score at 2-2.

Two minutes later, the Lady ‘Cats earned their first corner kick of the night. Amanda Want was fouled in the goal box on the ensuing play, and Davis connected on the penalty kick for her hat trick and a 3-2 Trigg lead.

Jarrett said that sequence shows what Trigg’s players are capable of.

“They know how to play soccer,” Jarrett said. “They know the basic rules, plays and fundamentals of the game, they’ve just got to put them all together and get fine-tuned.”

Tilghman managed only one other serious scoring threat the rest of the way, and Trigg freshman Lauren Frazier added insurance goals in the 59th minute on an assist from Davis and the 65th minute from Nadia Adams.

With approximately eight minutes left in the contest, the game was halted when an official on the field spotted lightning in the sky. KHSAA rules state teams must leave the field for 30 minutes when lightning is seen, and the game must be paused for 30 minutes after the last lightning strike.

No other lightning was spotted, and the storm had no other effect on the contest. Officials and coaches discussed ending the game early but ultimately decided to wait it out.

“I think this is the best group of girls Trigg County has ever had,” Jarrett said. “I think they just need a little more motivation. Everybody that played tonight made mistakes, but they recovered from them. Wins and losses are important, but so is learning from mistakes.”